(Persia Digest) – Iran’s Minister of Petroleum has stated that his country’s requests have been met at the 176th Meeting of the OPEC Conference in Vienna, adding: “As in the previous meeting, Iran has been exempted from reducing production.”

Speaking about the OPEC and non-OPEC cooperation plan, Bijan Namdar-Zangeneh said: “Fortunately, all amendments to the Declaration of Cooperation statute have been carried out for cooperation with non-OPEC producers. These are, however, not enforceable and do not create obligations for any countries.”

Zangeneh continued by saying: “Financial resources for this cooperation must be decided on as a separate issue and divided between the members. Hence, OPEC will not have to shoulder a new burden.”

In answer to a question on the impact of such cooperation on OPEC activities, he said: “OPEC is OPEC; the president and deputy for cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC producers under the Declaration of Cooperation will be selected on a periodic basis.”

At the 176th Meeting of the OPEC Conference which began yesterday, ministers discussed the implementation of cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC producers. Iran’s minister was a staunch opponent of this plan. Nevertheless, Zangeneh stated that amendments to the statute of the Declaration had satisfied Iran’s views.

He said: “Abiding by the Declaration of Cooperation is voluntary. This is acceptable to Iran as it is not binding.”

He added: “The aim of the Declaration is to create a means of cooperation between non-OPEC producers to work with OPEC without membership in the organization.”

According to Zangeneh, the meeting venue for cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC producers will remain at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna for the time being.